With plastic babies in front of them, members of the Super Sitters class watched carefully as the instructor demonstrated how to perform the Heimlich maneuver on a choking infant.

Then it was their turn.

The Heimlich maneuver was just one of the many things instructor Muriam Davison taught in Saturday's class.

"The main thing is that they know they have to stay calm so they can have confidence to reassure the child, and themselves, that they know what they are doing and everything will be fine," she said.

Held at Trinity Hospital of Augusta, the Super Sitters class teaches ages 11-14 the basic skills of baby-sitting.

During the one-day class, Ms. Davison covered topics such as the business side of being a baby sitter; how to entertain children; administering first aid; house rules; and general baby care.

They also received packets with information on scheduling activities, emergency numbers, and instructions on burping infants, mediating sibling fights, bath time and bedtime.

Pat Madray said that signing her son and daughter up for the class was a part of preparing them for more responsibility.

"I wanted them to have the confidence and the knowledge to baby-sit," she said. "Also, by them attending this, it will be reassurance for the parents of the children they baby-sit that (their children) will be taken care of."

The Super Sitters class is a part of Trinity Hospital of Augusta's For Young Adults education program. The next class will be offered Oct. 20.